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Ian Ryerson
Redwood City, CA
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Ian commented on the article |
I did forget a couple things and this will have to be my last post because this conversation can go on forever, but I will contine to read what goes on so I can expand my opinions.
I am not saying that abuse does not happen on the trail, and it may. I do not agree with that and I feel it is wrong. Maybe stronger rules need to be put into place to prevent this. But cruelty to animals will happen no matter what, race or no race. Dogs should not e foreced into things they do not want to do and should not be beat.
The race is also set up where there are mandatory breaks for the teams throughout. One that is 24 hours in length and must be taken at some point. On top of that I have personally seen a dog team stop all together as if they wanted to rest. They stoped, laid down and took a break, just like that. I don't see how it was not by choice.
For those of you who are going off of third and fourth hand information about dog sledding in Alaska. I hope you can take the time to contact some of these mushers personally, contact the vets that are involved in the race, contact the local villages (those that have phone service that is) and find out some information. Just go to the source and have a regular conversation with some of these people and get their persepective on things, the ones who are truly in the race to make sure nothing bad happens.
Also please look into the why the Ididarod race was started, at lease to know the background of why it became what it was. It saved an entire village from dying, and is not only caried on because of a sport but because of tradition. -
Ian commented on the article |
I still am confused as to how these dogs are forced to do this, you are saying as if they are being whiped or punished if they do not run? Which is not true so I am still confused.
One thing I must mention. Do not ever tell me a racing dog is the same as a fighting dog. Fighting dogs are forced to fight, and if they do not comply wit the owner they are beaten and physically injured. This does not happen to sled dogs so do not ever say it is the same.
So if all the above is true and the dogs feel, act, and have the excitement about racing as a dog may when someone is playing fetch with him (which dogs have died doing) Then dogs should no longer be allowed to play fetch, because well, it is something they could get injured doing whether they like it or not.
The extreme weather they are put in is not an excuse either, wolved live in these temperatures which are the same species as the dogs so yo umust remove the wolved to because they may get cold and die.
As far as the human leading the dogs and say, "they love it" so they should not put the dogs into harms way. ( they try there very best to ensure the safety of these dogs and truly love each and everyone of their dogs). Accidents do happen, but they happen to every species, to speceis doing what they love.
Compare the dogs to kids. Ok you say a parent would not ever allow a child to do something the at may call injury or death...Partents allow their kids to ski and ride in a car. Skiing is very dangerous, yet there kids are more then allowed to do this on a weekly basis. You may want to look into how many people die from skiing each yeat.
I still ahve not seen any good proof as to why these dogs are forced to run, and really do not enjoy it. I hope each and everyone of you could actually spend sometime in these situation with these animals (both man and canine) and see the true love that is shared between the team and the care these dogs receive before just picking bits and peices out of articles and only being open to opinions by other who have never even been around these animals.
Also, everyone seems to be fixed on the "race" of the whole sled dog thing. Many villages in Alaska use dog sled to travel. It is the only way to get from one place to another for them. -
Ian commented on the article |
I do not claim to know the right ways of this raise or what animals truly do feal. All I know is that when animals are abused in any way, you can see the fear in their eyes when either the means of abuse or the person doing the abusing is near. They cower, and they are skidish.
When I am around sled dogs and they see that sled or the harness, they are jumping all over it, smilling, looking so exstatic (as if it were time to play fetch when a ball obsessed dog sees a ball) just in the best mood good see them. And because of this, I find it hard to believe that these dogs are being tortured, that generally leads to a skidish animal.
I may be wrong but this is the impression I get. I am from Alaska and lived there for most of my life. I was around these dogs at some point every winter. Because of this I feel I have some grounds to base my opinion on, other then what is just read or seen on T.V. I lived with the culture, I saw the dogs in person. It was not edited or taken out of context.
I say all of this with the biggest open mind. I love to hear others experiences with these dogs. Please share your peronel experiences with sled dogs in your life, I enjoy it when others can change my mind. -
Ian commented on the article |
I must wonder how they are slave driven? Can you expand some as I would like to know man has done to force these dogs to run, and not sit there whinning to be another place?
You say you do not choose to ride your bike in extreme weather conditions, which is of course a choice and if you did not want to do something you wouldn't. But when you have dogs hooked to a sled all I see are dogs pulling as hard as they can to drive the sled. Even if someone is not in the sled they choose to pull and pull untill the force holding them back (an anchor) is released.
When I see dogs smile (as they seem to do) I can't help but think they are happy? If this has another meaning please share this with me.
I do fully support your decisions and views and am just trying to understand them more, I share what I know only from having direct experience with these dogs for so long.
Thanks for replying. -
Ian commented on the article |
I am not going to say one way or the other on how I feel about this dogs death. It is sad I know. Though after living Alaska for 20 years I do know that these dogs live to run on a sled dog team. They truly are the happiest when they are racing.
Harsh weather is something they really are built for and are not detered by it. They run out of choice and are not forced into it.
I am in no way stating that this is an excuse for the deather of a dog, as I am a person who has two rescued dogs of his own. All I am doing is stating my perspective of living around this culture for most of my life. -
Ian commented on the article |
Sharing profits with the farmer I think is something that will help build a relationship over time.
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